Michelle Zdrodowski, a spokeswoman for Roberts, said the district is pleased with the court's action.

"Their decision reaffirms what the attorney general and the Michigan Court of Appeals have said on this issue — that is Public Act 72 is not only still in effect, but also that Roy Roberts remains legally in his role as emergency financial manager of Detroit Public Schools," she said.

In November, State Court of Appeals presiding Judge Kirsten Frank Kelly wrote no part of Public Act 4 remains in effect as the result of voters repealing the statute in the Nov. 6 election, and the section of P.A. 4 repealing P.A. 72 — Michigan's prior emergency manager law — did not survive the referendum and has no effect.

A replacement for Public Act 4 was passed by the legislature in December, and will take effect March 27.